JohnnyD

What part of GENOCIDE and LIBERATE don't you understand? You know.. Sadham was attempting quit successfully what a man named HITLER tried to do. That probably doesn't strike a cord with you? Rhino The US never aided Hitler. Doesn't that strike a chord with you?

Good for you. I sponsor a child through CCF. I don't agree with their politics (religion), but I do admire their work. It is a really neat thing to write letters and I also get medical reports, report cards from school and additional letters from her family members. Next year when I have some more money, I will take on another child in the US.

NY Times

Fair enough. The bottom line is: Management reserves the right to refuse service to anyone. Regardless of what you or I would do, Fudd has chosen to not make the sale. Possibly to his detriment. Possibly not. Probably doesn't matter. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Congratulations on flipping your lid. If you had a student wearing a superbowl ring, military medals or a closing pin necklace (amazing to me that the three are mentioned together) would you make him/her take it off because your belief of not wearing those things differs from their belief of wearing them?

I agree completely. I also found out on my first night jump that there is a big difference between a "getting kind of dark sunset load" and a full on night jump.

I guess I just missed the "You are now a skydiver and therefore better than everyone else. Here is your secret necklace" initiation. Crap. I miss all the good stuff. I wouldn't miss out on $1,000.

I'm still not seeing where there is a problem.

Allow me to be the voice of dissent. Ever buy a hat or t-shirt of your favorite sports team? Did they tell you you can't buy it unless you play for the team? No. When I ordered a tie with a skydiver on it from paragear did they ask for any information other than my credit card number? No. Your sense of loyalty is touching, but your sense of business is lacking.

You must be doing something wrong. I fried up a 22 lb'r a few months ago. Yummy.

Holy price tag. That is one very expensive fowl.

deep fried.

Just to clarify, the sender works for WTS (or did)?

I have a pair of yellow tints. They cut down on glare more than clear lenses, but they do not make things appear brighter - just more yellow. Do NOT wear them on a night jump. Other than that, no problems whatsoever.

Can't seem to find my redneck to english translator. Is this an email sent to someone from the WTS email account?

Keep at it. Things appear to be coming around here. What type of work are you looking for?

There may be awillingness for many to stand on the soap box. What they would be lacking is an audience.

Different story, same basic premise. I have absolutely no sympathy for these people. The military in the US is a volunteer organization. There are no secrets. With about ten minutes of research or one of the specials on the Discovery channel, you know exactly what you are getting into. You can even have guaranteed schools, jobs, and duty stations. Deployments and the possibility of serving during a time of conflict are realities. If you chose to voluntarily enter the military and do not prepare for those realities, you will certainly suffer for it. I don't think it is the greatest idea to be married while in the military, but some people make it work. I think it is a worse idea to have kids, but some people make that work as well. I truly feel for the operators and all the other soldier types currently deployed. The US is not getting any support in Iraq from the rest of the world, we are still in other middle eastern countries and deployment times are getting long - damn near unbearable. Regardless, now is the time that the military is being asked to step it up, more than ever before in this generation. For whatever reason, some people are not equal to the task. Those people are not fit to put on the uniform and call themselves servicemen/women of the United States of America and should at the very least be immediately separated from service. Johnny Cpl, USMC 89-94 GW1

Follow up?!?!?!?!

I think the economic factor is due to the geography and mindset of the regular jumpers. I did my first 400 or so jumps at a small 182 dz. The people there were truly like family to me. When it closed, some people moved out of state and most just quit jumping. Although the conditions may look good for consolidating some smaller dzs into one big one, the reality is that more small dzs may be able to just barely keep their heads above water while one larger dz would most likely not. I think that most people that would be willing to put up with a long drive to go to a larger dz probably already are.

>It's Not About the Bike (watch Lance Armstrong fight cancer, get married, win a Tour de France!) Oh yeah - great book! I also really liked Chuck Yeager's autobiography.

The book version of Full Metal Jacket is quite entertaining. Its called The Short-Timers.

Traditions vary from dz to dz. Either way, it is a showing of respect and friendship. I have seen people loudly declare their 00 jumps and no one bothers with them. Its kind of sad. Following my 100th jump, I was tackled walking back from the landing area, stripped, drug into the packing area and everyone signed their name on me with magic marker. *sniff* Damn I miss those guys.

Best grounding ever - S&TA wanted to ground a jumper but the DZO said no. He took his rig to the loft for a repack and the rigger had him put it on and pull the handles. He let it sit in a tub for a month because he just couldn't get to it or kept forgetting. Kept lending him a rig with a larger canopy for free if he wanted to go jump. That is a good rigger.

Is it going to be something that just sits in your garage? If so, the donor fridge is the way to go. Remember when looking - you don't need it to be pretty, it just needs to get cold and be large enough to hold a keg. Cheers.